Sash carrying window frame construction



Aug. 28, 195.6 J. T. BONGIOVANNI 2,760,607 SASH CARRYING wmnow FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 22. 1952; 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1 4g :12] I 4a 49 2 1 I N VEN TOR. Jase 42772011145 Zagi'amzm Aug. '28, 1956 J. T; BONGlOVANNl 2,760,607

SASH CARRYING wmnow FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 22. 1952 HTTUR/VE) INVENTOR. Jase 4Z1 720m; fog/Mama 2 Sheets-$heet 2 United States Patent SASH CARRYING WINDOW FRAME CONSTRUCTION Joseph Thomas Bongiovanni, Rocky Point, N. Y.

Appiicafion October 22, 1952, Serial No. 316,301

15 Claims. (Cl. 189-75) This invention relates to window frames and more especially to window frames and the sashes or panels held thereby which are used for protection against storm and insects.

in storm windows of many types the construction is such that it is necessary to fasten to the building the frame holding the sashes or panels and to remove this frame from the building when full opening of the Window is desired. Moreover, usually in storm closures utilizing sliding sashes heretofore proposed provision is not made for easily removing the sashes from the frame and for holding the sashes in a partly opened position as well as for locking the sashes closed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a storm window frame which may be permanendy attached to the building and which is adapted to carry therein sashes slidable to different desired positions in the frame.

it is another object of the invention to provide a storm closure frame carrying a slidable screen sash which cooperates with the storm sashes carried by this frame and which may be easily moved to and disposed in different positions with respect to the storm sashes and the frame.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for retaining these sliding sashes in the frame in sliding relation thereto.

it is another object of the invention to provide means for easily and conveniently removing from the frame both the usual glass carrying storm sashes and the screen sash.

it is an important object of the invention to provide a storm closure frame of such construction that it is strong and rigid and permanently disposes and holds the frame elements thereof in position properly to cooperate with the cashes supported therein for closing the window openings against storm and insects.

It is a feature of the invention that the frame elements of the window frame are of such form in cross section transversely of the length thereof that shoulders or steps are provided therein against which the respective glass carrying sashes and screen carrying sash slidably bear. These frame elements also provide means with which the slidable sashes engage which retain the sashes in the sliding bearing relation to the shoulders or steps. These retaining means, however, are so formed that the sashes may be easily moved from engagement therewith and removed in succession one after the other from the frame. Preferably the frame elements of the window of the invention are made of metal and conveniently these elements may be formed of aluminum by extrusion.

The means referred to above for retaining the sashes in slidable relation to the frame in accordance with the invention are carried in channels or recesses in the frame element and, therefore, are inconspicuous in the assembled structure. These retaining means are disposed in the window frame of the invention generally in the upper half thereof and the glass carrying sashes which, when moved to this upper half, are held in position by these retaining means may be slidably moved downwardly to positions 2,760,607 Patented Aug. 28, 1956 in which in succession they may be disengaged from the respective retaining means and easily removed from the frame. As the framing element in section is of stepped form, as above stated, the two sashes and the screen are each of different widths from the others and they may be removed one after the other without interference with any guiding means as is the case with conventional sliding sashes that are retained by a stop or equivalent device.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of a latch which may be in the form of a slide bolt. This slide bolt may be carried by a selected sash and engages a channel of the frame element and is biased into such engagement. Such a bolt may be carried by the inner or lower sash which is disposed at the inner side of the building wall in which the window frame is erected. The bolt may engage a shallow channel provided by a wall jutting inwardly of the building wall from the element, the channel serving to guide the bolt and thereby the sash in sliding relation to the frame during movement of the sash upwardly or downwardly to different positions in the frame. The bolt under its bias may enter holes spaced along the shallow channel so as to lock the sash in the respective positions corresponding to these spaced holes. The retaining means above mentioned cooperate with this bolt and channel device to insure that the sash is retained in proper sliding relation to the frame.

An important feature of the invention relates to means for retaining the two angularly related elements of the frame which extend along the sides of the window opening that are adjacent a corner thereof in proper relation to each other. To this end a given one of the frame elements is provided with a plurality of walls extending in planes parallel to the plane of the window opening cantileverwise from a base wall. Slots are formed in these walls transversely of the lengthwise extent of this element of the frame and a blade projecting from the end of the adjacent angularly related frame element is entered in these slots so that the blade bears on the faces of these slots as well as edgewise on the base wall of the given element. After the blade is entered in the slots the elements may be secured together against separation by a fastening means or preferably by tack welding at convenient spots along the joint between these elements. A mechanical connection thereby is secured between the two elements which resists movement of one element relative to the other in the plane of the window opening and of either element transversely of this plane as Well as resisting torsional displacement thereof. As will be understood more clearly from the description of the drawings to follow this type of connection may be made in combination with a mitered joint between the two frame elements or with a joint in which one element abuts the other endwise.

These and other features and objects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the window frame and sashes of the invention as viewed from inside the building.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1, the sashes being removed.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section on line 33 of Fig. l to a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 to enlarged scale.

construction at the upper left hand corner of the frame of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows in horizontal section the frame elements of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 the frame 1 is formed of side frame elements, 3, a top frame element 5 and a bottom frame element 7.

The top frame element 5 is jointed along miter points with the side frame elements 3. The bottom frame element 7 extends at its ends over and is joined in abutment with the lower ends of these side elements 3. As may be seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 as well as in Pig. 1, the side elements 3 are of stepped form. The inner sash 9 carrying the glass panel 10 is wider than the sash 11 carrying the screen 12 and this screen carrying sash is wider than the outer sash 13 carrying the glass panel 14. As will be more fully explained hereinafter the sash 9 may be first removed at the inside of the building generally in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 by pressing the latch bolts 15 toward the center line of the window and moving the bottom edge of the sash 9 inwardly. Thereafter, the screen sash 11 may be moved to the lowermost position and similarly removed from the frame. Then the outer glass carrying sash 13 may be moved also to this lowermost position and moved inwardly of the building to remove it from the frame.

The framing element 3 as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 is of such cross sectional form that walls 17, 19, 21 and 27 are provided extending in planes parallel to the plane of the window and of its sashes. These walls extend in this parallel relation cantileverwise from the base wall 23. In the embodiment disclosed in the drawing this base wall is inclined to the plane of the window and to the planes of the walls 17, i9, 21 and 27 so that the lengths of these cantilever walls outwardly from the base wall 23 are generally the same. This base wall, however, may be disposed in other positions with its width extending transversely of the plane of the window opening, the walls 17, 19, 21, 27 being of such length as to provide the steps for receiving the sashes.

As shown in Fig. 4, each of the walls 17, 19, 21 carries a projecting abutment 25 against which the respective vertical edge surfaces of the sashes may hear. The abutments 25 are disposed on the respective walls so that the side surfaces thereof may receive the bearing of edge surfaces of the sashes. These side surfaces in the embodiment disclosed are respectively in the same vertical plane as the end edge surfaces of the next adjacent cantilever walls and the edge surfaces of the respective sashes also may bear on these end edge surfaces of the walls. The end edge surfaces of the respective walls, however, may be disposed somewhat outwardly of the window opening in the plane of the window with respect to the side surfaces of the abutment 25, the sashes then bearing only on the side surfaces. It will be apparent, therefore, that the sashes may be removed each from its step or shoulder of the framing element by a swinging movement in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the window and of the sash.

It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 6 that in the frame element of the invention the cantilever Wall 27 disposed at the inner side of the building wall carries a web or jutting wall 29 forming with the wall 27 and a flange 30 a shallow channel member for engagement with the latch pin or bolt above mentioned and hereinafter more particularly described.

It will be apparent that between the walls 27, 17, 19 and 21 are formed channels adapted to receive auxiliary elements of the device of the invention. One of these auxiliary elements is constituted by the means for retaining the sliding sashes in bearing engagement with shoulders or steps of the frame element 3. As shown in Fig. 4 and also indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, within the respective channels are disposed spring elements 31 which are fastened to the cantilever walls by means of screws 33, these spring elements projecting from the channels toward the surfaces of the adjacent cantilever walls providing the steps or shoulders against which the corresponding sashes are in sliding bearing relation. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these spring elements are formed with fingers 35 projecting from a base portion which is fastened to the cantilever wall by the screws 33. The fingers 35 are so contoured that due to the resiliency thereof they are biased toward the sash bearing surfaces of the respective adjacent cantilever walls. They are flared at their ends, however, so that a flange of the frame element of the sash may pass between the finger of the adjacent spring element and the adjacent bearing surface of the shoulder. In sash 9, as shown in Fig. 4, the sash frame element 39, for example, is of H section and the flange 37 thereof is disposed between the spring 31 and the wall 17. The fingers 35 of the spring bear on this flange 37 and press it against the surface of the wall 17.

The spring elements 31 thus are so formed with respect to the frame element 39 of the sash 9 that the sash may slidably move vertically from a lowered position and its flange 37 may engage and pass between the lower finger 35 and the bearing surface of the cantilever wall. The sash may then continue to move upwardly so engaged by this finger into engagement with the upper finger 35 of the spring element and then into engagement with the fingers of the next spring element 31 adjacent the top of the frame. These spring elements, therefore, retain the sash when moved in the upper half of the frame in bearing against the corresponding step or shoulder. When, however, the sash 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 adjacent the bottom of the movement thereof but before its bottom frame element engages the frame element 7, the lower edge of this sash may be swung inwardly, the upper corners thereof, however, being retained by the lower fingers of the lower set of spring elements 31 as shown in Fig. 1.

The inner or lower sash 9 having the side frame element 39 carries on its bottom frame element 41, Figs. 1 and 3, a latch bolt 15 at each lateral side of the sash. This latch bolt is adapted to move slidably in a recess 43 formed in the frame element 41. The bolts are biased by springs 45 respectively toward the adjacent jutting walls 29 of the frameelements 3. The lower wall of the recess 43 is cut and bent upward to provide abutments 47 against which the springs 45 bear to bias the latch bolts 15 respectively toward the jutting walls 29. These jutting walls are provided with holes 49 spaced therealong in which the latch bolts 15 may enter in the different positions to which the inner slidable sash may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1.

In this position, as may be seen in Fig. l, the latch bolts 15 lock this inner sash 9 in closed position with the lower V-shaped edge of the bottom element 41 thereof entering a V-shaped channel provided in the bottom frame element 7 of the window frame, this channel conforming to the V-shaped lower edge of the sash element 41. Under the bias of springs 45 the latch bolts 15 hear at their ends against the bottom surfaces of the shallow channels provided in the jutting walls 29 when the sash 9 is moved upwardly from this lowest position. During such sliding movement of the sash 9 between positions of engagement of the latch bolts 15 with the holes 49 the ends of the latch bolts slide on this bottom surface and the flanges 30 of the jutting walls 29 prevent the lower edge of the sash from moving transversely of its plane and the plane of the window, the spring elements 31 engaging and retaining the upper portion of the sash elements 39 as described above.

When, however, this inner sash 9 is moved to a position adjacent its lowermost position and before the latch bolts enter the lowermost holes 49, that is, before the sash element 41 enters the V-shaped groove of the element 7, the inner sash 9 may be moved at its lower edge inwardly transversely to the plane of the window when the latch bolts are retracted by pressing the finger brackets 51 thereof toward the center of the window in the direction parallel to the plane thereof. It will be clear that after the lower frame element 41 of the sash 9 is clear of the flanges of the V-shaped channel in the inwardly swinging movement, this sash may be moved downwardly to bring the flanges 37 of the framing element 39 thereof to a position below the lower fingers 35 of the lower set of spring elements 31. The sash 9 then may be removed entirely from the frame. The reverse operation will serve to place the sash in sliding position in the frame and, if It is then moved upwardly, unless retracted the bolts 25 will enter the next holes 49 which will leave the sash in a partly opened position. The bolts 15 in such movement are guided at their ends in the shallow channels of the jutting walls 29. If it is desired to move the sash to the next partly opened position this may be accomplished by again retracting the bolts and pushing the sash up, allowing the bolts to enter the third holes 49. Similar movement from this position upwardly will bring the sash to the upper position with the bolts entering the uppermost holes 49 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed the screen carrying sash 11 is disposed between the two glass carrying sashes 9 and 13. Within the scope of the invention any of the sashes may be screen carrying and the other two sashes glass carrying, the faces of the sashes parallel to the plane of the window being closely disposed or meeting, as shown, to provide storm and insect tightness. Because of the light weight of the frame and screen of the sash 11, latching or holding bolts ordinarily are necessary for this screen but, if desired, such latching or holding means may be provided and may be similar to that above described in connection with the inner sash or similar to that hereinafter described in connection with the outer sash.

The spring fingers 35 of the middle set of elements 31, that is the element 31 carried on walls 17 pressing the flanges 55 of the H section frame elements of the screen against the bearing surfaces on the adjacent cantilever walls 19, provide suificient friction to hold the Weight of the screen in any position to which it is moved. This screen sash may be removed from the frame by pulling it down to a position adjacent the lowermost position and then moving it inwardly of the building until its lower edge is clear of the bottom framing element 7, the lower fingers 35 of the middle set of elements 31 yielding in this swinging movement but retaining engagement with the sash 11 adjacent its upper corners. Continued downward movement of this sash then will bring its upper corners to a position clear of the lower fingers 35 of the middle set of spring elements 31 and the sash may be completely removed fro-m the frame. Reversing the steps the screen sash may be reinserted and moved upwardly to the upper position in the window frame, it then being retained by the two middle sets of spring elements 31 carried by the walls 17 having their fingers disposed adjacent the walls 19.

The outer glass carrying sash 13 similarly is engage able by the fingers 35 of the spring elements carried on the wall 19 and which press upon the flange 57 of the sash frame element 59 of H section as shown in Fig. 4..

This sash 13 is provided with latch bolts 61 slidableparallel to the plane of the window in retainers 63 car-- ried on the bottom element 65 of this outer sash. The bolts 61 enter the channels between the walls 19 and 21 and are slidable in relation to these walls and are clear of the projecting abutment 25 so that the sash 13 may be moved vertically in the frame between the uppermost position thereof and a lower position guided by the bolts. in the channels.

In the channel space between the walls 19 and 21, however, wedge shaped blocks 67 are disposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, in such position along the vertical extent of this channel of the frame elements 3 as to be engaged by the latch bolts 61 in the following manner.

it will be apparent from consideration of Fig. 1 that. the ends of the latch bolts 61 may slidably move on. the inclined surfaces 69 of the blocks 67 in the upward. movement of the sash 13 from the position shown in; Fig. l, the latch bolt 61 being moved against the bias of the springs 64 engaged thereby. When sash 13 has 6 moved upwardly so that the latch bolts 61 have moved to the position just above the blocks 67 these bolts are moved by the springs 64 laterally above these blocks and may rest upon the upper end surfaces 68 of the blocks 67, thereby to hold the sash 13 in its uppermost position closing the upper part of the frame opening. By retraction of the bolts 61 by means of the finger brackets 71 concealed at the outside of the window in a recess 72 but accessible from the inside when the sash 9 and screen 11 are raised, the outer sash 13 may be released from the blocks 67 for movement downwardly to a position adjacent the lower part of the window. If desired more than one set of the blocks 67 may be provided to hold this outer sash in different positions but ordinarily it is sufficient to provide for locking this sash in the upper position by the means of blocks 67 as shown in Fig. 1, movement of this sash to the lowermost position in the window being provided for.

An important feature of the invention relates to the means for fastening together the framing elements 3 and the framing elements 5 and 7 angularly related thereto. This feature provides a rigid construction and one in which, when the parts are properly fabricated, they may be easily assembled in the desired angular relation and secured together to dispose corresponding surfaces and edges in proper relation to each other so that the sash will slide vertically without binding or undue friction and when in the closed positions will cooperate with the frame to secure the desired weather tightness and security. To this end a mechanical joint is formed between the frame elements in accordance with the invention which utilizes the parallel walls 27, 17, 19 and 21 on the elements 3 which have been described above to cooperate with a blade provided on the transverse elements 5, '7 to resist movement of these parts under torsion and bending forces applied thereto.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the top framing element 5 is provided with a blade 81 which is formed as an extension of the web 83, Fig. 3, of this top framing element 5. The web 3 carries a downwardly extending rib 85 which provides rigidity for this web and for the element 5 and also provides for engagement with the upper edge of the inner sash 9 when this sash is in the uppermost position in the window.

Because in the present embodiment the base wall 23 of the side frame element 3 is in inclined relation to the plane of the window, the blade 81 is similarly formed with an inclined edge 87. As shown in Fig. 5 the side element 3 has formed therein a slot 89 in the plane of the blade 81 and at right angles to the length of the frame element 3. This slot 89 is constituted by individual slots in the walls 27, 17 and 19 into which the blade 81 may enter until the inclined edge 87 thereof engages the inner ends of the slots adjacent the base wall 23. The blade 81, therefore, bears on the upper and lower faces 91, 93 of these slots and on the inner ends of the slots when the top frame element 5 at its mitered end abuts the rnitered end of the element 3. It will be clear that with these various edges and surfaces in engagement there is provided effective means for holding the frame elements 5 and 3 in proper angular relation to each other and in the plane of the window to form a corner of the frame. In this connection it will be noted also that the blade 81 is cut-out along an edge 95 so that it engages the abutment 25 carried by the wall 21 and a corresponding abutment 66 adjoin ing the wall 23, upon which abutments and the wall 19 the block 67 bears as shown in Fig. 4. Thus an additional bearing surface is provided for the blade 81 of the top member 5.

While in some cases such mechanical bearing of the elements Sand 6 may be sufficient since the frame elements will be secured in place upon the building wall or upon the conventional window frame thereof, in most cases it will be desirable to provide auxiliary securing means, such as mechanical fasteners or bolts or preferably spots of welding along the joint formed between the frame elements 3 and 5, to secure these elements of the frame in position relative to each other. Such auxiliary securing means may be used to hold the blade 81 from sliding movement relative to slot 89 during shipment of the frame.

In the embodiment of the invention being described the bottom frame element 7, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. is provided with a web 97 in the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the plane of the window. This web 97 carries flanges 98, 98:: which form with the web the V-shaped channel for receiving the bottom element 41 of the sash 9. The flange 98a also serves as a stop for the screen in its lowered position. In a manner similar to that described with respect to the blade 81 the bottom element 7 is formed with blades 99 at the ends thereof which enter slots 101 in the elements 3 of similar form and length to the slots $9 at the upper end of the element 5 as described above. The blades 99 are similarly formed with an inclined end edge for engagement with the inner ends of the respective slots in the same manner as the edge 87 of the blade 81 as above described. The blades 99 cooperate with the framing element 3 in bearing relation upon the faces of the slots and may be fastened in place by suitable means, as mentioned above for the blades 81, to secure rigidity and strength at the lower corners of the window frame.

The frame of the invention may be provided with flanges 103, 105, 107 respectively upon the top frame element, the two side frame elements and the bottom frame element. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6 these flanges may be provided with spaced grooves 109 extending therealong upon the face of the flange which is at the outside of the building. The spacing of these grooves is such, for example about Ms", that a plurality of these grooves may be provided on each of the flanges 103, 105, 107. In order to fit the storm window frame to different existing window frames and openings, the grooves 109 afford a means of easily severing a strip of greater or less width along the edge of the flange to narrow the width thereof so that the flange may be brought into face to face engagement with an exterior surface of the existing window frame or other part of the wall structure in erecting the storm window frame in place.

The H section sash frame elements referred to above as shown in the drawings may be of more or less conventional form with respect to the means for holding the glass and screen panels and for sealing the glass panels therein against passage of air and water and for holding the screen panel in place. Within the scope of the invention any form of sash frame element may be utilized which provides a flange or similar part upon which the spring element fingers 35 may bear to press the sash against the corresponding surfaces of the cantilever walls projecting from the base 23 and providing the steps for receiving the sash as above described. The means shown in the drawings may be modified to suit different conditions while retaining the significant features of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, if desired the screen sash 11 may be provided with a bolt latch 111 at each of the side frame elements of this sash. This bolt is biased toward the corresponding side element 3 of the window frame by spring 113 engaging a washer 115 fastened on the bolt 11 1. The bolt 111 is provided with a flange 117 which is brought into engagement with the side element of the frame 11 under the bias of the spring 113 to limit the movement of the bolt.

Within the channel between the walls 1 7 and 19 a wedge block 119 may be disposed which is similar to the block 67 described above which engages the bolt 61, this block 119, however, being in inverted relation to the block 67. The end of the bolt 111 extends into the channel suflieientlyto engage the inclined surface of the block 119 in the downward movement of the screen so as to be cammed outwardly thereby. The block 119 is disposed in the channel at such a distance up from the bottom frame element 7 of the window frame that the bolt 111 will pass just below the block 119 when the screen sash 11 is in lowermost position with its bottom frame element engaging the flange 98a. In this position the bolt under the bias of the spring 113 extends over upon the bottom surface 121 of the wedge block, thereby to prevent raising the screen until the bolt 111 is retracted by means of the knob 123. This bolt is disposed at the side of the screen carried by the screen sash 11 that is at the inside of the window so as not to be operable from the outside of the window.

Within the scope of the invention the structure above described may be modified to suit different conditions while securing the cooperation of the parts for accomplishing the purposes described. The number of spring elements provided for each sash may be varied as well as the number of wedge blocks. The form and number of the slotted walls which receive the blade of the angularly related frame elements may be varied to suit different conditions. All such variations. which retain the features of the invention disclosed above are intended to be within the scope thereof.

I a m:

l. A window frame which comprises two frame elements disposed with their lengths in angular relation to each other adjacent a corner of the frame so as to extend along respective angularly related sides of the window opening generally parallel to the plane of the window opening, a plurality of walls extending along the length of a given one of said frame elements and cantileverwise from said given frame element in planes generally parallel to the plane of the window opening and in spaced relation to each other transversely of said plane, said cantilever walls each having a slot therein open at the free edge of the wall and extending transverse to the length of said walls along said element, said slots being disposed adjacent but spaced along said walls from the ends of said walls adjacent said corner of the frame and a web member carried by the framing element angularly related to saidgiven element and projecting endwise therefrom transversely of the length of said given element, said web memher being entered in said open ends ofsaid slots and having an extent generally transverse to the planes of said walls sufficient to engage a plurality of said walls to cooperate therewith to resist movement of said frame elementsrelative to each other.

2. A window frame as defined in claim 1 in which said given frame element is provided with a base wall extending lengthwise thereof in a plane transverse to said plane of the window opening, said plurality of walls of said given element projecting cantileverwise from said base wall distances to providesubstantial bearing thereof along said slots upon said web member entered in said slots.

3. A window frame as defined in claim 2 in which said base wall is disposed in a plane inclined to said plane of the Window opening, said cantilever walls of said given element projecting from said base wall distances such that the free edges thereof spaced from said base wall are in general alignment in a plane inclined to said plane of the window opening in the same general direction as said inclined'basewall.

4. A window'frame asdefined inclaim 3 in which said cantilever walls project from said base wall substantially equal distances to provide substantial equal bearing engagement thereofwith said web member.

5; A window frame as defined in claim 1 in which said web member extends along and substantially'throughout the length of said framing element angularly related to said given element in a plane transverse to said plane of the windowopening.

6. A window frame as defined in claim 1 which comprises a spring element supported by a given one of said plurality of walls and having a part disposed adjacent the surface of the adjacent wall parallel to said given wall for engagement with an edge portion of a sash slidably disposed between said spring element and said surface of said adjacent wall.

7. A window frame as defined in claim 6 in which said spring element has a portion disposed within the space between said given wall and said adjacent wall and carried by said given wall, said spring element having a portion projecting from and offset inwardly toward said window opening with respect to said first portion and disposed adjacent said surface of said adjacent wall for engaging said portion of said sash.

8. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a base wall extending lengthwise thereof in a plane transverse to the plane of the window opening, said frame element providing a plurality of walls extending lengthwise thereof and projecting cantileverwise from said base wall in planes generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and in spaced relation to each other transversely of said plane of said opening, said cantilever walls projecting from said base wall respective distances and providing surfaces generally parallel to said plane of the window opening in stepped relation to each other for bearing engagement of panels or sashes conforming respectively to said steps, the respective cantilever walls having shoulders disposed adjacent and at the same side of the wall as the respective bearing surfaces and outwardly of said surfaces with respect to the window opening for engagement with the edges of the respective panels or sashes.

9. A window frame as defined in claim 8 in which said plurality of walls are spaced transversely of the plane of said window opening so that said bearing surfaces adjacent said shoulders are spaced in said transverse direction distances substantially equal to the thickness of the respective panels or sashes.

10. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a plurality of respectively opposed walls extending lengthwise of said element and projecting therefrom cantileverwise generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and spaced with respect to each other in the direction transversely of the plane of said opening and providing surfaces generally parallel to said plane for bearing engagement of panels or sashes, a given cantilever wall having at the same side of said wall as said bearing surface thereof a shoulder adjacent said bearing surface thereof, said shoulder and the end edge of the adjacent cantilever wall that is in opposed spaced relation to said bearing surface of said given wall being disposed for engagement therewith of the edges of the respective flanges of a frame element of channel section of a sash bearing on said surface of said given cantilever wall adjacent said shoulder.

11. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a plurality of respectively opposed walls extending lengthwise thereof and projecting therefrom cantileverwise generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and spaced with respect to each other in the direction transversely of the plane of said opening and providing surfaces generally parallel to said plane for bearing engagement of panels or sashes, a given cantilever wall having at the same side of said wall as said bearing surface thereof, a portion upstanding therefrom and providing a shoulder adjacent said bearing surface thereof, said portion providing a surface parallel to the plane of the win- 10 dow opening adjacent said shoulder, said given cantilever wall having a part providing an additional surface parallel to said plane of the window opening and disposed outwardly of-said window opening with respect to said shoulder of said given wall, and a member carried by said frame element within the space between said given cantilever wall and the cantilever wall that is in opposed spaced relation to said bearing surface of said given wall, said member engaging said surfaces of said portion and of said part of said given wall that are parallel to the plane of the window opening, said member having a form for latching engagement therewith of a latch element carried by a sash disposed in bearing engagement with said bearing surface of said given cantilever wall adjacent said shoulder thereof.

12. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a plurality of walls extending lengthwise thereof and projecting therefrom cantileverwise generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and spaced with respect to each other in the direction transversely of the plane of said opening to provide surfaces generally parallel to said plane for bearing engagement of panels or sashes, the wall that is disposed at an end of the arrange-- ment of said plurality of walls carrying a wall jutting: therefrom outwardly of the frame element generally transversely of the plane of the window opening, said jutting wall extending along said frame element and forming with said end wall a shallow channel for guiding the end of a latch pin slidable in and along said shallow channel and carried on a sash disposed in said window opening in sliding edgewise relation to said end wall and in sliding relation to a surface of the next adjacent parallel wall.

13. A window frame as defined in claim 12 in which said jutting wall is provided with a recess therein for receiving the end of said latch pin for retaining said sash in a predetermined position relative to said frame element.

14. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a base wall extending lengthwise thereof in a plane transverse to the plane of the window opening, a plurality of walls extending lengthwise of said frame element and projecting cantileverwise from said base wall in planes generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and in spaced relation to each other transversely of said plane of said opening, said cantilever walls projecting from said base wall distances to dispose the free edges of said walls one beyond the other in succession to form sash receiving steps in said frame element, and a spring element supported by a given one of said projecting cantilever walls and having a part disposed adjacent the surface of the adjacent projecting cantilever wall for engagement with an edge portion of a sash bearing upon said surface of said adjacent wall and biased into engagement therewith by said spring element.

15. A window frame which comprises an elongated frame element adapted to extend along a side of a window opening, said frame element providing a plurality of respectively opposed walls extending lengthwise thereof and projecting therefrom cantileverwise generally parallel to the plane of the window opening toward said opening and spaced with respect to each other in a direction transversely of the plane of said opening and providing surfaces generally parallel to said plane for bearing engagement of panels or sashes, a given cantilever wall having a shoulder adjacent and at the same side of said wall as said bearing surface thereof and disposed outwardly of said bearing surface with respect to said window opening, said shoulder and the end edge of the adjacent cantilever wall that is in opposed spaced relation to said given wall being disposed for engagement therewith of respective portions of the outer edge surface of a panel or sash 1 1 having a surface in'bearing relation to said surface of said 2,463,432 given cantilever wall adjacent said shoulder. 2,574,742 2,595,016 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,001,681 Hufi May 14, 1935 ,983

12 Russell et al. Mar. 1, 1949 Keifer Nev. 13, 1951 Specter et al Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 20, 1891 

